Echinacea plant named &#39;ifecssts&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘IFECSSTS’, characterized by its upright and relatively compact plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; strong flowering stems; numerous and large single-type inflorescences with orange yellow and red bi-colored ray florets and greyed red-colored receptacle spines; and good garden performance.

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Innoflora Plant Breeding B. V. of Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands on Nov. 6, 2020, application number 2020/2809. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant, botanically known as Echinacea hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘IFECSSTS’.

The new Echinacea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new vigorous and freely flowering Echinacea plants with large inflorescences with unique and attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Echinacea plant originated from a cross-pollination in July, 2017 in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida identified as code number 009-15-K054-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida identified as code number 009-14-K070-032, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Echinacea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in August, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Echinacea plant by in vitro meristem culture in a controlled environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands since September, 2019 has shown that the unique features of this new Echinacea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Echinacea have been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘IFECSSTS’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘IFECSSTS’ as a new and distinct Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and relatively compact plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Strong flowering stems.     -   5. Numerous and large single-type inflorescences with orange         yellow and red bi-colored ray florets and greyed red-colored         receptacle spines.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea and the female parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the new Echinacea have         orange yellow and red bi-colored ray florets whereas plants of         the female parent selection have red-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea and the male parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the new Echinacea have         orange yellow and red bi-colored ray florets whereas plants of         the male parent selection have orange-colored ray florets.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Echinacea are held mostly         erect to horizontal whereas ray florets of plants of the male         parent selection are drooping.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of Echinacea hybrida ‘Parrot’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,928. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of ‘Parrot’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are more compact than plants of         ‘Parrot’.     -   2. Plants of the new Echinacea are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Parrot’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Echinacea are smaller and more         upright than leaves of plants of ‘Parrot’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Echinacea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Echinacea plant. The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘IFECSSTS’ grown in a container. The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘IFECSSTS’. The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3) is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘IFECSSTS’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer in 17-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Echinacea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 18° C. Plants were pinched eight weeks after planting and were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea hybrida ‘IFECSSTS’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida             identified as code number 009-15-K054-01, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida             identified as code number 009-14-K070-02, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 36 days             at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 42 days             at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright             and relatively compact plant habit, inverted triangle;             freely basal branching habit with about 16 primary lateral             branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous growth             habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 48 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 40.8 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 23.8 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Internode length: About 3.2 cm. Aspect: Erect to about             15° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Densely             pubescent; strigose, rough. Color: Close to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Basal leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About             13.2 cm. Width: About 4.6 cm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex:             Acute to narrowly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire to             coarsely and shallowly dentate; slightly and coarsely             undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Moderately pubescent, strigose and rough; matte. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             between 146A and 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Darker than close to NN137A and 147A; venation, close to             144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Slightly darker             147B; venation, close to 146D.         -   Cauline leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 12.2 cm. Width: About 3.7 cm. Shape: Narrowly ovate.             Apex: Acute to narrowly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire to coarsely and shallowly dentate; slightly and             coarsely undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Moderately pubescent, strigose and rough; matte.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Close to between 146A and 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Darker than close to NN137A and 147A; venation,             close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:             Slightly darker than 147B; venation, close to 146D.         -   Petioles, basal leaves.—Length: About 9.2 cm. Diameter:             About 2.25 mm by 4 mm. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Mostly glabrous; midvein             and margins, sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close             to NN137B; midvein, close to 146D. Color, lower surface:             Close to NN137B; midvein, close to 144B.         -   Petioles, cauline leaves.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter:             About 2.25 mm by 4 mm. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Mostly glabrous; midvein             and margins, sparsely pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close             to NN137B; midvein, close to 146D. Color, lower surface:             Close to NN137B; midvein, close to 144B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Large single-type inflorescences with ray and             disc florets arranged on a capitulum; inflorescences             positioned upright above the foliar plane on mostly upright             and strong peduncles.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 32             developing and fully developed inflorescences per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet and pleasant.         -   Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously from early July             to late September in The Netherlands.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about three weeks on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About             2.3 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 10.4 cm. Depth (height):             About 3.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 3.4 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.             Shape: Deltoid. Color: Close to 155B.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 15 to 21             arranged in a single whorl at the base of the receptacle.             Length: About 4.9 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Narrowly             oblong to oblanceolate; slightly carinate. Apex: Emarginate.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and             luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Aspect: Mostly horizontal; with development, reflexing             slightly downward with development. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 23B and towards the base, close to             42C to 42D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 11B and             towards the base, close to 147C with basal margins, close to             54A. Fully opened, upper surface: Distally, close to 21B and             proximally, close to 53A to 53B; venation, similar to             lamina; color distally becoming closer to 20A and             proximally, closer to 60A, with subsequent development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Distally, close to 150B and             proximally, close to 145A, with margins, close to 59A;             venation, close to 145A to 145B; color becoming closer to             between 149B and 150A and basal margins, closer to 183C,             with subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 220 per             inflorescence, arranged spirally at the center of the             inflorescence. Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Tubular; proximally, 17.5% free, not fused. Apex:             Acute. Base: Fused. Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer             surfaces: Apex: Close to 176B. Mid-section: Close to 143C.             Base: Close to 150C. Color, fully opened, inner and outer             surfaces: Apex and mid-section: Close to 148A tinged with             close to 183C. Base: Close to 144C.         -   Receptacle spines.—Quantity: One per disc floret; about 220             per inflorescence. Shape: Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Apex: Close to 179A. Mid-section: Close to 146C.             Base: Close to 145D.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 60             arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width:             About 2 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate; strongly reflexed. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Texture,             lower surface: Moderately pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 10.3 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 cm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture:             Moderately to densely pubescent; strigose. Color: Close to             144A and 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on ray and disc             florets): Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About             3 mm. Filament color: Close to 157D. Anther length: About             2.5 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to             200A to slightly darker than Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: Close to 21A. Gynoecium (present only on disc             florets): Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About             7 mm. Stigma shape: Decurrent, unequal. Stigma color: Close             to N186A. Style length: About 5.5 mm. Style color: Slightly             lighter than close to 153D. Ovary color: Close to 145D.             Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Echinacea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Echinacea     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Echinacea plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Echinacea have exhibited good     garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind. Plants of the new     Echinacea have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of about     35° C. and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 4. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘IFECSSTS’ as illustrated and described. 